Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2008 Volkswagen Passat is a midsize car accessible as a sedan or wagon. Each body styles are available in Komfort, Turbo, VR6 and Lux trim levels. Passat can be bought in front-wheel-drive or 4Motion all-wheel-drive settings; 4Motion is standard on the VR6 wagon.

Base Turbo models are very limited in terms of options, but you will get heated up entrance seats and iPod device incorporation. A menu method and an underbody package are available on other Passats. The Dynaudio program is optionally available on Komfort and Lux versions, although adaptive vacation cruise manage is an distinctive extra on the VR6.

Powertrains and Performance

All Turbo, Komfort and Lux models come with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine rated for 200 Hewlett Packard and 207 lb-toes of torque. Base Turbo models may be designed with a six-speed handbook transmission or a six-speed automated. The auto is standard on the Komfort and Lux. All 2008 Volkswagen Passat VR6 models are equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 good for 280 hewlett packard and 265 lb-ft of torque that’s also paired to a half a dozen-speed automated. Even the 2.0-liter turbo with the auto is a quick combination: We clocked a Passat sedan at 7.7 mere seconds to 60 miles per hour. Front-wheel-drive VR6 models better that period by about a 2nd.

Fuel economy ranges from great with the turbo 4-cylinder (21 mpg area/29 mpg highway with a guide, 19/29 with an auto) to disappointing on the Passat VR6 4Motion (16 city/24 highway). Ranked at 17/26, the front side-travel VR6 model stands about typical for a V6-prepared sedan.

Safety

All Passats appear very well equipped with safety features. Antilock disc braking system, grip control, stability control, contra–whiplash front mind restraints, front side-seat side airbags and full-duration head curtain safety bags are all standard. Recommended for all trims are rear-seat part safety bags. In National Road Transportation Safety Management accident exams, the 2008 Volkswagen Passat earned four (out of 5) superstars for the security of front residents in head-on accidents. Area-influence tests led to several superstars for front side travellers and four for all those in the rear. The Insurance Institution for Freeway Safety scores the Passat as “Great” (the very best ranking achievable) in the frontal-offset and part-effect collision assessments.

Interior Design and Special Features

Each and every Passat provides a cozy and high end cabin. Match and finish is superb and there’s a sensing of preciseness to all the controls. Starting the car is a tad unusual but much easier than the regular stick-the-important-in-and-perspective drill. One simply inserts the “crucial” into an very easily seen/used slot on the dash and pushes it to start out the car. Trunk area capability holds at 14.2 cubic feet, which is about average with this school. The wagon has 35.8 cubic feet of freight space with the next-row seats up.

Driving Impressions

An impressively firm construction offers sportier managing than earlier Passat generations. Although the chassis is continue to tuned much more for comfort than assaulting apexes, body roll is held in check and the steering is sensitive yet lighting, without sensation over boosted. Element in the powerful engines and the Passat makes for one of the most entertaining rides in the midsize section. The only considerable negative we’ve present in road exams is too much highway sound on models with the larger sized wheels and wheels.